Khaled Said's killers sentenced to ten years in jail

Two policemen were sentenced to seven years in 2012 before they were granted a retrial

Ahram Online, Monday 3 Mar 2014

An Egyptian woman holds a picture of Khaled Said during a silent protest marking the second anniversary of his death at the hands of Egyptian police in Cairo, Egypt. Khaled Said's died in Alexandria in June, 2010 (Photo: AP)

Alexandria criminal court has sentenced two policemen to ten years in jail for killing Khaled Said.

Awad Saleh and Mahmoud Ghazala were found guilty of torturing Said to death in June 2010.

Defence lawyers said they would appeal the verdict.

Scuffles broke out in the courtroom between security guards and the defendants' relatives after the presiding judge said only lawyers and media personnel could attend the session.

"We were expecting heavier sentences for the killers, we now leave it up to God," Zahraa Said, the victim's sister, said via Facebook.

In October 2012, the two policemen were sentenced to seven years in jail for the illegal imprisonment and torture of Said. Both prosecution and defense appealed the original sentence.

The verdict was also rejected by political activists and Said's family, who said it was too lenient.

Speaking to Ahram Online in 2012, Said's lawyer Mahmoud Afify explained that under Egyptian law a member of the police beating someone to death is automatically classified as "torture" and leads to a heftier sentence of 15 years because officers are "expected to know better."

Said, 28 at the time, was reportedly targeted because he possessed video footage of police sharing the spoils of a drug bust.

His killing was followed by nationwide protests against police brutality, which had spiked under Hosni Mubarak and interior minister Habib El-Adly.

Said became a symbol of police brutality. His death highlighted the injustice of the Mubarak regime and resonated especially among young activists and bloggers.

The 'We are all Khaled Said' Facebook page motivated many Egyptians to protest for "Bread, Freedom, Social Justice, and Human Dignity."

In January, eight activists were handed two-year prison sentences and LE50,000 fines for protesting without a permit during the Khaled Said trial in December 2013.

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bknot1

04-03-2014 10:24am

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SMH!!

his is the Justice System in Egypt.. to much time, to many appeals, and not the right sentence. They should be serving life or at least 25 to life without the possibility of getting out.
Too many pepole get away with meaningly murder that are not punished correctly for.

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Naser

03-03-2014 03:34pm

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Sentencing

The police terrorists who killed Khaled Said definitely should be imprisoned. The same needs to be done with the rest of the Mubarak criminals.

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Naser

03-03-2014 04:10pm

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Length

Though the sentence is insufficiently harsh and not long enough. It is strange that brutal murdery is treated so lightly. To many barbarians who fought against citizens both before and after 2011 after still on the loose/prowl.

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Habib El kholy

03-03-2014 02:07pm

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I AM Offended

This is the regime of the wworst kind and making. I oppose to them and will always stand for the rights!!1!! They wann making picture showing of the wrong thing nd not to fight the people. But they know that they canna fight za people . its the people will the people will that goonnaa making the country the best in the nation

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Ali

03-03-2014 01:08pm

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why ?

Why is it that the truthfull good people get tortured and killed and the corrupt and evil get punishment and freedom. Truly sad in egypt :(

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mhmd

03-03-2014 01:03pm

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unfair

it is clear that the sentence is so unfair only ten years for beating to death personally i am shocked but it is not strange when our justice sentenced who assaulted then killed zeina to seven years